Toyota goes racing!

Hiroyuki Kukidome, driving a Toyota Group 7, leads Jo Siffert and his Porsche 917 at Fuji Speedway in 1969 (photo above). The Toyota 7 was a line of racing cars developed from 1967 by the Toyota Motor Company in cooperation with Yamaha Motor Corporation.

Designed to participate in FIA competitions welcoming Group 7 racing cars, it was the first Toyota project developed exclusively for motorsport.

The chassis was a fiberglass and aluminum monocoque, while the engine was initially the 2986 cc DOHC V8, which was later replaced by the 4986 cc DOHC twin-turbo V8. All this for a total weight of less than 800 kg.

For the 1969 Japanese Grand Prix, Toyota entered five 474S cars (the 1969 version of the Toyota 7). Vic Elford was recruited to drive the #7 alongside Toshiaki Takahashi and finished fourth behind three Nissans, while Kukidome and Hosoya in the #2 Toyota finished fifth. A respectable result for the Toyota boys.